Blades of Glory

Necessary equipment for a day at the rink.

No matter how much we may TiVo and BlackBerry, circling the rink on a chilly night evokes roasting marshmallows, mittens on a string, and Hans Brinker read aloud by a fireplace. Most casual skaters rent, but there’s something special about starting off a young first-time skater with a pair of his or her own. The Little Rocket skates from American Athletic (a boys’ version comes in black with light-blue piping) have double-runner blades for extra stability, so kids can actually walk on the ice until they’re confident enough to glide. They’re also $15.98—so parents don’t have to invest too much in something that might not fly. Kids’ sizes range from 8 to 13 (Triangle Sports, 182 Flatbush Ave., at Fifth Ave., Park Slope; 718-638-5300).